Shohei Ohtani’s Remarkable Cricket Swing Powers High Inside Pitches

The input swing performed by legendary hitters who made their mark in history

About 60 years ago, Sadaharu Oh (84), who later set the world record with 868 career home runs, repeatedly practiced swings with coach Hiroshi Arakawa so much that the tatami mats were worn out, completing his trademark one-legged batting stance. Oh’s swing was so extreme it was described as a daikon cut, which was a downswing intended to help his body internalize the movement so that, when his form dropped, he could always bring the bat parallel to the trajectory of the ball.

Ichiro (51), the world’s greatest hit maker, would always repeat a swing where he lifted the bat from low to high before stepping into the batter’s box during his playing days. Later, Ichiro explained this motion as a way to input the bat’s trajectory, leaving the grip behind and ensuring his chest was not visible to the pitcher.

Great hitters who made their mark in professional baseball have used such input swings to stabilize their hitting at a high level, achieving many accomplishments. This also applies to Shohei Ohtani (30).

“Just before stepping into the batter’s box, Ohtani makes a motion where he brings the bat parallel to the ball high on the inside corner, almost like a cricket shot,” said a sports paper desk.

Since last season, when he hit 54 home runs, Ohtani began practicing hitting with a cricket bat. He revealed that the purpose of this practice was to make contact with the ball using the bat’s face, and the input swing he performs before each at-bat likely serves the same purpose.

So, what is the benefit of making contact with the face of the bat? Baseball commentator Takahiro Tokitsu explains.

“Increasing the time the bat and ball are parallel improves contact rate and reduces ground balls. In Major League Baseball, there are many players with strong arms and wide defensive ranges, and with extreme shifts in the defense, it’s hard to get ground balls through the infield. By making contact in a way that drives the ball over the heads of the fielders, Ohtani is engraving a swing that results in home runs.”

This input swing allows Ohtani to align the bat with high inside pitches, but the effect is not limited to inside pitches. A prime example is Ohtani’s second home run of the season on March 28 (Japan time).

“It was a well-executed shot that carried a ball slightly outside into the left field stands. To hit a home run to the opposite field, the bat must make contact without rolling over the barrel. He uses his natural power to push the ball with a trajectory that keeps the bat’s barrel in front of the pitcher for a long time. The fact that he has been hitting like this since the opening game is proof of his good form. He may even surpass last year’s performance,” said the same source.

Ohtani hit home runs in both the opening series in Tokyo and the home opener. This season, his hitting continues to captivate fans in both Japan and the U.S.

From the April 18, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY”